Cam Change Thanks/Question About Break-In
 

I had posted this on the SL forum, but this is really a more general question concerning break-in of cam/cam followers.

Firstly, thanks to everyone for helping and/or inspiring me into a successful cam change on an '85 380SL. It wasn't really that bad except very nerve-wracking, worring about the cam bearing/head bolt threads. With slow,even, and oiled torquing, I was apparently successful. The engine started literally the first crank revolution (NATURALLY, I had spun it by hand maybe 10 times before starting). I had nightmares about parts popping through the cam covers.

The book mentions an immediate oil change after doing a chain/etc replacement (which I also did). Although I'm really sure that there was no way anything went in the engine while I was grinding the chain ends off, when should I really do it? I used breakin lube on the cam and rockers - is that bad to leave in for any length of time? OR SHOULD I leave it in for a while? The breakin lube bottle offers no advice. I did run the engine about 2000 rpm for 10-15 minutes; I had read that this is a good speed to have the cam and (new) rockers meet and greet each other. I've looked at the parts since and they are perfect; the oil tube is literally streaming oil to the cam lobes, even at idle - something it hadn't been doing recently, considering that it was essentially laying on top of the bearings:eek: .

You did everything right. Change the oil though. Also, IMHO, run dyno in it for the first 3000 miles. I know there are those that will have various opinions about this. The dyno like rotella have more of a detergent aspect to them and will help the parts mate in faster. If you want to go all out, remove the filter, cut the ends off along the top and bottom edges with razor blade, then cut and stretch the filter out like an accordian. If you have a magnifying glass you can look under bright light to see if there are any metallic deposits within the oil filter.